Magnitude 6.7 earthquake causes panic in Chile

A STRONG 6.7-magnitude earthquake has jolted northern Chile, US monitors say, knocking out electricity and local telecom services but no immediate tsunami warning was issued.

The earthquake occurred at 2015 GMT (0715 AEDT) at the relatively shallow depth of 47.5 kilometres and the epicenter was located 102 kilometres from the mining town of Copiapo, the US Geological Service said in a report.

That is about 800km north of the capital Santiago.

Chilean authorities did not immediately report any fatalities.

The quake, which lasted longer than a minute, downed phone service and power in cities in the region, local officials said.

Panicked people ran out into the streets of the town of Atacama, fearing a tsunami, as homes were damaged in the city of Vallenar.

In Copiapo, the quake knocked out windows.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said in a preliminary report that, based on historical data, no destructive widespread tsunami threat existed, but noted that an earthquake of such magnitude could cause localised damage.

Meanwhile, Chile's National Tsunami Alert System said the conditions were not favourable for a tsunami event.

In February 2010, a massive earthquake hit Chile's central Maule region, south of Valparaiso, generating tsunami waves, killing more than 500 people and causing billions of dollars in damage.

Since then, further quakes have caused concern about what could be to come.